Wound treatment system and method of use

• US 8,241,258 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaporox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IYIA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Pelkus, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Lynne
• Application Number:
  US12/375,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,213 Days
• Field of Search: 604289-291, 604/293
• US Class Current: 604/289
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/02 with artificial climate; with means to maintain a desired pressure, e.g. for germ-free rooms dust-free laboratory rooms B01L1/04; decompression arrangements B63C11/32; arrangements or adaptations in aircraft B64D13/00; air-conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/06 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/106 for the lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

A wound treatment system includes a vessel that is sized to receive a human limb. The vessel includes a chamber with an opening leading into the chamber. A removable liner lines the chamber of the vessel and forms a treatment zone. A humidifier in fluid communication with the treatment zone humidifies a solution of water and antibacterial agent. An oxygen source is in fluid communication with the treatment zone. A speaker is coupled to the vessel and emits low frequency sound waves to the chamber. A first array of light emitting diodes that emits ultraviolet light is coupled to the vessel near the opening of the treatment chamber. A second array of light emitting diodes that emits pulsed light into the chamber is coupled to the chamber. The system also includes a control panel.

Claims

1. A wound treatment method for treating a wounded limb, comprising:

cleaning the wounded limb;

placing the limb into a vessel comprising a chamber lined with a removable and substantially gas impermeable liner, the chamber being portable and formed of a substantially rigid material;

placing a cuff around the wounded limb to substantially form a seal with an opening of the chamber thereby forming a substantially gas impermeable treatment zone around a portion of the limb distal the cuff; and

introducing a mist of water and an antibacterial solution, into the treatment zone; and

introducing O₂ into the treatment zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibacterial solution comprises ionic silver, hydrogen peroxide, bacitracin, betadine, or isopropyl alcohol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibacterial agent comprises an adiabatically humidified hydrogen peroxide/silver solution.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the patient'"'"'s blood oxygen level using an oximeter.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising discontinuing treatment if the patient'"'"'s blood oxygen level reaches a predetermined level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of introducing a mist of water and an antibacterial solution into the treatment zone and introducing O₂ into the treatment zone occur simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of introducing a mist of water and an antibacterial solution into the treatment zone and introducing O₂ into the treatment zone occur sequentially.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, following the step of introducing a mist of water and an antibacterial solution into the treatment zone and the step of introducing O₂ into the treatment zone, the introducing steps are repeated.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each step of introducing O₂ into the treatment zone lasts for between about one minute and about 15 minutes.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each step of introducing O₂ into the treatment zone lasts for between about 5 minutes.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of introducing a mist of water and an antibacterial solution into the treatment zone and the step of introducing O₂ into the treatment zone are repeated 4 times lasting approximately 80 minutes.

12. A wound treatment apparatus, comprising:

a treatment vessel having a treatment chamber and one or more openings to the treatment chamber that are each sized to receive a human limb;

a removable and substantially gas impermeable liner that lines the chamber of the vessel and is adapted to form a treatment zone around the human limb; and

a mixture tank that holds a humidifying agent and O₂, the mixture tank in fluid communication with the chamber of the vessel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lining comprises a sterile plastic material.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

an access port in the chamber for receiving water; and

a speaker attached to the vessel;

the speaker

configured to deliver low frequency sound waves to the chamber when water is introduced into the chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a hose fluidly connecting the mixture tank with the chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a pump configured to pump water out of the chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a humidifier in fluid communication with the mixture tank;

and a hose fluidly connecting the mixture tank to an inlet port in the vessel.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second inlet port in fluid communication with the vessel.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a pressure release valve on the liner fluidly connecting the treatment zone to the chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a removable lid positioned over the opening of the chamber.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a cuff, the cuff removably coupled to the opening of the vessel and sized to sealingly engage a human limb when the limb is inserted through the opening.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the cuff comprises an open cell material configured to naturally leak fluid, thereby forming a baffle for the treatment zone.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the cuff is configured to gradually leak fluid to prevent a sudden loss of pressure in the treatment zone.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the cuff comprises a material that acts as a filter for pathogenic material.

25. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a temperature sensor in fluid communication with the treatment zone.

26. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a humidity sensor in fluid communication with the treatment zone.

27. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the treatment zone.

28. A wound treatment system, comprising:

a vessel sized to receive a human limb, the vessel comprising a chamber with at least one opening;

a removable and substantially gas impermeable liner that lines the chamber of the vessel and forms a treatment zone;

a humidifier configured to humidify a solution of water and antibacterial agent, the humidifier in fluid communication with the treatment zone;

an O₂ source in fluid communication with the treatment zone; and

a control panel.

29. The wound treatment system of claim 28, wherein the humidifier comprises an adiabatic humidifier.

30. The wound treatment system of claim 29, wherein the adiabatic humidifier is configured to use ultrasonic energy to form a mist from the solution of water and antibacterial agent.

31. The wound treatment system of claim 28, wherein the control panel comprises:

a humidifier control configured to control the operation of the humidifier; and

a master power switch.

32. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a source of fluid, the source in fluid communication with the chamber.

33. The wound treatment system of claim 32, further comprising a pump configured to pump fluid out of the chamber.

34. The wound treatment system of claim 28, wherein the control panel comprises a manual control switch configured to permit manual operation of the system.

35. The wound treatment system of claim 28, wherein the control panel comprises an auto control switch configured to permit automatic operation of the system according to a predetermined regimen.

36. The wound treatment system of claim 28, wherein the auto control switch comprises a plurality of auto settings corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regimens.

37. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a foam cuff adapted to substantially form a seal between the human limb and the opening of the chamber.

38. The wound treatment system of claim 37, wherein the foam cuff comprises an open cell material configured to slowly leak fluid.

39. The wound treatment system of claim 37, wherein the foam cuff comprises a material configured to act as a filter for pathogenic material.

40. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising an oximeter in electrical communication with control circuitry integrated with the control panel.

41. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the treatment zone.

42. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a humidity sensor in communication with the treatment zone.

43. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the treatment zone.

44. The wound treatment system of claim 28, wherein the O₂ source comprises an O₂ tank or an O₂ concentrator.

45. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit data.

46. The wound treatment system of claim 28, further comprising a barcode data reader.